Marlin spike

D

DrivebyTrucker

Joined
Nov 8, 2005
Messages
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Anyone use them for tying/untying knots with cord while out in the bush? Whether car camping, hiking, fishing, trapping, or bush crafting. They look cool and handy. I've never used one. Of course, I'm inexperienced with knots in general. So, who uses one? And where can I find one? Other than those titanium ones that Daniel Fairly makes. I mention that as I knew someone else would.
Does my SAK Swiss Champ have one that I don't know about? It's far away from me at the the moment so I cannot check. Maybe there are some sailor pocket knives that have them. Maybe Victorinox has one. I know some are made in Sheffield England by a few makers. Post up if you have one and which one it is.
 
myerchin makes several rigging knives fixed blade or folding, that have a Marlin spike. or the spike can be purchased separately, also Camillus,Buck,Case,Ka-Bar, all sold rigging knives. used knives can still be found online at fair prices.
 
Wichard makes a really nice one that I have had for many years and used a few times around the house, boating, and hunting camp but not too often. Do a google search and you will get many hits on it. It is also a shackle key and has a built in bottle opener. You should be able to get it around $30. If you have a West Marine dealer nearby most of them should carry it and you can at least examine it in person before buying it.

If you want a cheap one to play with go to Harbor Freight and pick up one of their Chinese rigging knives with a marlinspike. They are less than $5.00 and fairly decent for that price. Much easier to carry around in the field than the Wichard which needs to be holstered if you want to carry it around with you which I would never do.
 
I have three, I like them. I don't carry it as often as I should, but I always take it if I know I'm going to be dealing with rope.
I have a Camillus model, Victorinox Mariner, Sog Nautical. They are all good in their own rite.
My favorite would be the Camillus but the Vic has a different approach to their spike.
You obviously love knives (joining the forum) so you know you goto have one.:D


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I wear a Camillus when at work, I frequently have to deal with line and knots. Primarily they are used for stubborn knots, by shoving the taper into a tight spot to force slack where it doesn't otherwise want to go. They also come in handy when splicing stranded line with eye-splices and the like. I have a small 'fid' which is a small spike that I use when doing 'fancy work' which is the nautical macrame.

There is also a knot called the Marlin Spike Hitch. It is basically a slip-knot that the spike is inserted into to make a handle to pull the line snug, afterward the spike is slipped out again. Aside from tightening onboard lashing, I think it has uses when slinging a hammock.

Most spikes that come on folders tend to be rather pointy, which can poke you sometimes. The spike on my Camillus is a little more forgiving and I have still been able to work it into knots on very small line.

When you start talking about a separate spike, Myerchin makes an elegantly shaped Stainless one that are liked by the folks I know who carry them.

C. S. Osborne also makes carbon steel spikes that range from 4" to 48" they are described as 'wire rope marlin spikes' but obviously the spike doesn't care what it's used on. I wear a 6" in a dual sheath (rig) with a modified skinner (trimmed to a sheeps-foot) when I sail on tall ships, and I love the 'ducks-bill' shape at the tip instead of a round point. (the 'ducks-bill' is essential when splicing wire rope)

Other spikes are available from J Adams of Sheffield, UK (with both a pencil and a chisel point, which looks a lot like a screw-driver), and Linder of Solingen, Germany (which is basically a rod with a small taper at the end) as well as from others.

This is a long winded explanation and probably more than you wanted to know about marlin spikes. It sounds like you are not at sea often, so my best recommendation would be to hie ebay and try to find an old Camillus, Ka-bar or Buck. The important thing with a folder is to get one that has a LOCKING SPIKE, many cheapies don't lock and you can hurt yourself if it folds up on you when you are not expecting it.

Good luck,
--Jack
 
Thanks for the explanation Jack. So far, the Sheffield one is really nice. But for practicality, the one Danial Fairly makes would be the lightest, most elegant one for doing rope work in the field, as opposed to at sea.
 
Sheffield makes a nice one that I believe is still used by the Brittish Navy...or at the very least it's used by people who sail. I'd rather not get another knife just for a marlin spike. I'm shocked the only victorinox model that comes with one is a model that doesn't appeal to me at all. It doesn't have to be a marlin spike. It could be something that just works for taking out knots and is small to carry. I was thinking of a nail but most of them have some *bite* on them. But not all....I think. I'll have to check. Nail setters look a little to big.
 
I have several marlinspike clasp knives, just because I like them. However, you could also use a screwdriver, flat or Phillips, instead of a nail.
 
As a sailor (non-military) and having worked as a rigger off and on for many years, I carry one and use it all the time. A large spike (6" nail) can be made into a rudimentry marlin spike if needed. They are very handy for all kinds of things. If you arent well versed in knotting you should have a spike to undo the knots if tied incorrectly or the wrong knot is used.

A wire rope spike is a specific tool, but does work well on regular rope. The taper length, diameter, and overall length is matched to the diamter of wire rope you are splicing. I don't do many wire - wire or wire - rope splices now, so I have since sold those.

Features to look for are a minimum length of about 3", I like 3/8" diameter, a slight curve (for the marlin spike hitch), and a rounded polished tip.

I have used the Wichard spike a few times before giving it to a non boating friend. I didn't like it much. I carried a Myerchin Light Knife for a few years now and it has been great. A great knife is the Buck 315, seems to be about $40 on the bay now. No longer in production.

Also, there are three basic types of "Marlin spikes." A wire rope spike as described above, a rope spike (what I describe to look for), and a shakle spike which is for tripping and working shackles.


-Xander
 
Here are some others if you want to check them out. ://www.agrussell.com/search.asp?ss=seamaster&x=0&y=0.
 
You can always make one with a huge concrete nail by grinding the tip so that it's more pointy but round like the rest of the nail, then wrapping it with cord. Total cost: around $3
 
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